The Flood Expo is the world’s largest exhibition and conference designed to help the most progressive flood professionals and property owners discover the latest innovative products, services and strategies that transform the way flooding is predicted, prevented, and managed.

The Flood Expo Runs Alongside

Edenside Barn - Flood Recoverability

The idea behind the Flood Resilient Showcase Project was to use products and materials that will try to keep water out of properties prone to flooding. In a lesser, severe flooding event those products (all of which have been tested to a high specification) are expected to reduce water ingress. It is acknowledged that when flooding is severe, these products may well be overtopped. The showcase highlights what can be done to manage the residual risk.

The Flood Resilient Showcase Project sought to adapt properties by using differing interventions to reduce the amount of damage that flood water can do when it enters a property.

This approach will enable the property owners to #getbackinsooner.

At the core of the Flood Resilient Showcase Project is the real-life demonstration of flood installation measures at three properties in Cumbria led by Mary Dhonau, Chief Executive of the Know Your Flood Risk Campaign.

Edenside Barn is a private dwelling/barn conversion, located on idyllic farmland close to the banks of the river Eden.

Edenside Barn has periodically, suffered with flooding when the river Eden has bursts its banks. Following the devastation of storm Desmond in 2015/2016 Edenside Barn was flooded, leaving it uninhabitable and the owners having to seek alternative accommodation.

Following successful collaboration with Mary Dhonau on flood resilience projects, Aquobex and Delta Membrane Systems Limited were asked to design a robust, resilient and recoverable solution incorporating their products on this project.

Methodology

This project required a resilience and recoverable solution. We expect this property to experience future flooding events.

Delta’s design allowed for water exclusion and water entry. Our design incorporates BS 85500:2015 Flood Resilience in Buildings, which plans for both water exclusion and water entry.

Delta Registered Installer’s Peter Cox Limited, volunteered their time to install Delta products on this project.

Delta’s design sought to provide continuity to the internal system from the external flood barriers to create a water tight seal to the property.

Prior to application at Edenside Barn, Delta’s water-based Epoxy was tested at Aquobex’s testing facilities. Aquobex operates a premier test facility dedicated to PAS1188-1 and FM2510 (testing of flood protection products). It is equipped to produce the necessary conditions for static water testing, current testing and with wave-makers suitable to deliver the JONSWAP wave formations specified in the standard. Aquobex’s testing facilities are utilised by BSI and the BRE for flood product testing.

The structure itself consisted of internal stone walls and concrete floor slab. The Base substrate to this property was a good quality concrete floor with zero or minimal flood ingress.

The block walls and floor slab were tested for any leak paths. The interfaces between the wall and floor needed to offer a watertight seal to stop ingress between the slab and the wall.

The internal stone walls were coated using Polyeurea, with 2 coats of Delta’s water-based Epoxy applied and to the existing floor slab.

In addition to Delta’s water-based Epoxy which worked in conjunction with the ployeurea to provide both a barrier to water entry and a non-absorbent to water finish.

Koster Polysil TG 500 was applied throughout as a salt inhibitor and surface hardening treatment.

Conclusion

Through joined up thinking and the use of combined systems this property can be insured and is now recoverable to both flood water exclusion and water entry.